Episcopal Divinity School (EDS) is launching the Innovating Beloved Communities Cohort, a transformative year-long program designed to equip and catalyze a circle of faithful innovators. Applications for this cohort are officially open today: January 22, 2026.
Led by the Rev. Canon Dr. Stephanie Spellers ’04, a preeminent voice in 21st-century ministry and mission, the cohort will convene up to 12 lay and clergy leaders. These participants will spend a year discerning, incubating, and launching "God’s new thing"—ministries and organizations designed to advance a just, compassionate, and multicultural Beloved Community.
“These leaders will be folks who are out there doing ministry,” said Canon Spellers. “We’re looking for leaders who are ready to create something the church has never seen - and all for the sake of love. We can’t wait to help this community of innovators to discern, incubate, experiment, and bring something forth that the church and world desperately need right now.”
The cohort runs from May 29, 2026 to June 1, 2027 and combines rigorous academic insight with practical ministerial application. Participants will benefit from:
- Expert Mentorship: Instruction from a teaching team of leaders in spiritual formation, business, and community organizing.
- Hybrid Learning: Two in-person retreats in the Boston/Cambridge area and six virtual sessions.
- Broad Skillsets: Deep dives into innovation thinking, anti-racism, community development, fundraising, and evangelism.
About the Rev. Canon Dr. Stephanie Spellers ’04
The Rev. Canon Dr. Stephanie Spellers ’04 spent nearly a decade as Canon to Presiding Bishop Michael Curry. A celebrated author and educator, she founded The Crossing in Boston—a groundbreaking community weaving Episcopal tradition with voices from the margins. Her most recent book is Church Tomorrow? What the 'Nones' and 'Dones' Teach Us About the Future of Faith. Canon Spellers currently serves as Canon in Residence at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in New York.
Application Details
- Eligibility: Open to lay leaders and clergy active in ministry.
- Cost: $3,000 (includes all travel, lodging, and meals for retreats, as well as online instruction). Financial assistance is available.
- Timeline:
- Applications open today: January 22, 2026
- Deadline: March 6, 2026
- Selection Announcement: March 25, 2026